Envelop-opener



Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

l. A. MULLIGAN.

ENVELOP OPENER.

APPucATLoN FILED nEc.2, 1918.

/r/G. 6 l

n J. Wallggaw/ Gttouwas 4.4i of rig. e with ai@ Stop block advanced andthe knives raised and showing how the i i UNiTED STATES-"PATENT orties.

Tonia A. MULLIGA'N. 0F NARRAGANSETTPI'ERQ '.anonii'isrnsirr'nV y lnNvnLor-ornnnn.

description of the invention, such as willV enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to an envelop opener, and has for its primaryobject to provide'an opener of this character wherein different sizes ofenvelops can be introduced and the ends thereof cut, the waste from theenvelops being trapped so as to avoid the scattering thereof in the useof the opener, the opener being of novel form topermit its easyloperation and-the cutting of `en velops with dispach.

Another object of 'the inventionis the provision of an envelop opener ofthis character which is comparatively simple in construction, thoroughlyreliable and efiicient in its operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.f

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of-parts asy willbe hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing,and pointed out'in the claims hereunto appended.

- In the drawing :-H

` Figure 1, is a vertical section through the casing of the'apparatus,from front to rear, ythe knives and their operating mechanism being inelevation. f f" Fig. 2, is avertical :section'at right angles l,

to the section vof Fig. 1, inthe plane includ-r ing the knife operatingplunger, thev knives and their operating mechanismsbeing again inelevation. 'v I Fig. 3, is a detail sectional viewVV on line 3-3 of Fig.2 to show the bevel of a knife and the manner in which it engages andmoves the stop rearwardly to uncover the wide slot and permit the'cutoffl end of the envelop to fall into the drawer beneath, the drawerbeing shown in Figs. 1 and` 2.

Fig. is a horizontals'ection on the line stop block partly covers V-theslots through which the cutoff envelop ends drop.. Fig. 5, is atransverse section on line 5-'5-5 VSpecicationrof Letters lratent.l lPatentedspt; 21., 1920,v Application inea December 2e, 191s. 'serial No.268,261.

. of Fig. 2 and showing thepivotalfmounting i a' ofV thelower ends ofthe knives. v Y F ig.` 6,' is a'section on linee-6 of Fig. 2andrillustrating the mounting vof the plun ger and the vconnection ofthe knife operating links' therewith. 'n A Referring tothe drawings, thevenvelop opener comprises a casing 10, preferably of metal and providednearV its ,bottom and spaced therefrom, with a transverse partition11forming a cutting bed. In this bed,

are formed the spaced transversely extending slots 12 one edge of eachof which is sharpened toform a cutter. v-

Withinand upon theV bottom of the cas in'gis mounted a bifurcated block13 having a-pivot pin 13 engaged through its arms and on this fpin andbetween the arms are l pivotally mounted the lowervends of knives 14that extendnp'wardly and divergingly through the vrespective slotsf12.`lPivoted to the upperend vof each of the knivesjl/f is a link 15 whichlinks inl turn' are pivoted `to the arms 16 that project from theopposite sides ofV a tubular vplunger 17 that is slidably mounted in aguide 18 that is passed through the. top and depends within vthe casing10.

Each of these knives with its link thus forms a toggle and to hold-theknives normally and yieldably raised, therev is provided a rectangularbar 19, the lower'end of which is bifurcated and straddles the block 13,the ends of the bifurcations being pivotally-mounted upon the pin 13.The bar 19 above the block 13, and its bifurcation, lies within theinclosure of the knives andtheir connected links and the upper` endportion of this bar slidably engages the crosssectionally rec-`Vtangular tubular plunger '17.` Upon'the bar 19 .is mounted a helicalvspring 20, thatrests with its lower end-uponthe bed lllwhile. its

upper end bears against'the'ter'minal flange 21 at the lower end of 'theplungerl'.'

Y vWith this construction it'will be noted that when the plungery 17 isdepressed,`the

knives 14: will be swung outwardlyl and with there extends forwardly arest 22, leading from which into the casing, are the guideways 23 thatare alined with the correspond-l ing slots 12 so an envelop .laid uponthe l' From the lower portion of the casing y10 A iio rest 22 and movedinwardly through a guide 23wil1 assume ayPOSton projecting for, a

tom of ,the casing.

In order that the envelop may be moved intothe casingnothe propendegree,a stop block25 is disposed upon the4 bed 11 and eX.- tends' forwardlypart wayI across the sslots '12,

this block being heldI yieldably in this position .through fthe mediumof a spring 26 that encircles a plunger QTthatjextends; through the rearof; fthe casing; lOfy and iscarried by the v,blockfQi The side, facesofthe knives lapin the-direction of the block 25 are beveled aslshownat-28 andthe central portion offthe block 25 Lisrecessedto receive theknives, :the

vends, of the; recess being beveled to correspond to the ybeveled facesof the knives so that they may rest thereagainst. When the envelop isintrod-uced,g it. stops against 'the stop .block. The; knives thendescenduand their beveled faces urge the stop block rearwardly SofastoeXpo-se; the entire width of the slots IQ'tQpermit fthe cutoi'liendsofthe envelops to drop readily', therethrough and intoffthedrawerbeneath;` Wereit not` for l theuncoveringfoi'` the slot, the exposedareas would be,,sofsmallasqtoiprevent the ready passageof the`cutoitends therethrough.

positions f against the stjop.

Itwill beunderstood that the drawers may bew-ithdrawn yfrein-the Icasingat any time to discharge their contents. l

l. An envelop ,opener comprising a casing having-y abed `provided'withslotshaving cut- 2. An envelop opener comprisinga bed Aplatehaving pairof slots provided withv cutting edges, a .block disposed below theplate, a pair of knives pivotally connected with the block and extendingupwardly and through the corresponding slots, a plunger having linkconnections with the ropposite ends of the knives for movement thereofincooperative;relationto,the cutting edges of the slots when the plungeris actuated, a rod v having one end bifurcated and mounted upon thepivot of the vknives in position Ato embrace them and the blocks, theopposite end or" therod slidably engaging the plunger, and' a returnspring for the rplungerdis;

posed'tupon-the rod `and bearing.- with rits ends against' the plateiand;,-pl'unge`n frespectively. Y Y

' 3. An envelop opener comprising applate having a cutting edge,va'knife pivted below the plate andfextending above they plate incoperative relation to thecutting edge and having means for actuating itin shearing relation' to ,the cutting edge, and an envelop vstop plateyieldably heldin-definite spaced relation tothe cuttingv edgeandfhavingfa bevel, the'blade having alsoI a bevel arranged to engagethe bevelfof thefstopfzplate zin its shearing vmovementv and under.theiniuence of-which engagement the stopyplate is movable away'from thecutting edge.

4. lAn envelop opener compri-sing abase having: a pairl vof cutting4vedges, an envelop stop plate Y slidably- ,mounteduponL the lbase andheld yieldably 1 with spaced y portions thereof in spaced relation tofthe cutting edges respectively, said spaced portions havingbevels,cutting blades pivoted :below v'the baseand extending' tromvabovein copera-V4 tive relation fto vthe'cuttlng edges and having bevels'disposed to engage respectively the iirst named bevelswhen .thebladesVare moved inshearing relation to the cutting edges and under theinfluence of which the .stop plate is movable awayfromthe'cutting edgesand means connectedvwith the blades or'operating them. simultaneously.

In testimony whereof, I ture, inthe presence of twdw-itnesses. f

, -YW-itnesses: n 3

7, FnANmW, GLnMENs, NELSON F. MELLEN.

-afix ,my signa-V i

